The document summarizes the Initial Naval Training (Officer) course at Britannia Royal Naval College. The 30-week course aims to prepare young officers for subsequent specialist training and gain experience in the seagoing environment. It is split into 3 terms covering seamanship, navigation, operations, academics, and leadership training including exercises. Candidates must meet medical, physical, dental, and academic standards including being aged 18-25 and meeting fitness, swimming, running and eyesight requirements.

1. www.royalnavy.mod.uk/idt
International Defence Training (Royal Navy)
May 2015 Britannia Royal Naval College
INITIAL NAVAL TRAINING
(OFFICER) (INT(O))
AIMS OF COURSE
To ensure that the young officer is ready for subsequent phases of specialist
training, having completed initial training to prescribed standards and gained an
appreciation of the seagoing environment.
To stimulate, inspire and teach a new generation to act and react instinctively as
Naval Officers in the front line.
OUTLINE SYLLABUS
INT(O) is delivered to both Royal Navy and International Young Officers. The
course is common to all specialisations and lasts for 30 weeks. It is split into 3
terms of 10 weeks with 4 entries a year:
Term 1 – Induction, seamanship, navigation and leadership, culminating in the
Assessed Basic Leadership Exercise (ABLE), a 4 day exercise on Dartmoor
Term 2 – Maritime operations, academics, further navigation, twin screw boat
handling, presentation skills and the 3 week Initial Ship Acquaint onboard an
operational RN warship.
Term 3 – Naval Military Training, strategic studies, Royal Marine acquaint,
Critical Thinking module, seminar presentations, and a 4 day maritime leadership
programme, culminating in the 4 day Maritime Leadership Exercise (MARL), on
the River Dart. The term culminates with ceremonial training and the Passing Out
parade.
ENTRY STANDARDS
All applicants are subject to the following personal standards:
a. Age – Each Young Officer must be over 18 and under 25 years old at
the start of the course. Exceptionally, candidates up to the age of 34 may
be accepted if they meet the medical and fitness requirements, although
experience indicates that older candidates have difficulty with the physical
aspects of the course.
b. Medical standards – The course contains a significant amount of
physical and mental pressure. As a result all Young Officers entering BRNC
are required to be medically, dentally and physically fit on joining with
reasonable reserves of stamina.
(1) Pre-Course Medical – All potential Young Officers are to have full
medical and dental examination no more than 3 months before joining
and will have a medical examination on arrival at the college. Candidates
must be in good general health with no evidence of chronic or current
illness or disease. Only candidates assessed as being “Fit for full sea
Reference No
005/034
Duration
30 weeks
Location
Britannia Royal
Naval College,
Dartmouth
Frequency
4 courses
per year
Age
Minimum age 18

2. www.royalnavy.mod.uk/idt
International Defence Training (Royal Navy)
May 2015 Britannia Royal Naval College
INITIAL NAVAL TRAINING
(OFFICER) (INT(O))
service in any part of the world and able to withstand exposure and
fatigue for normal periods” are acceptable. Documentary evidence of
a recent medical and results of any investigations must accompany the
candidate.
(2) Chest X-ray – The examination is to include a full plate chest X-ray
which must be normal.
(3) Haematological Screening – Haematological screening for
Sickle Cell trait is mandatory. Candidates with a positive trait are not
acceptable.
(4) Eyesight – Glasses and contact lenses are acceptable. Visual Acuity is
to be measured using the Snellen’s Chart system. Candidates must not
have Visual Acuity and Near Vision assessment (N), achieved with or
without correcting lenses, less than:
BETTER EYE WORSE EYE
Either 6/6 N5 6/24 N10
or 6/9 N5 6/18 N10
or 6/12 N5 6/12 N10
(5) Hearing – Candidates are to have an audiometric assessment and
must not have hearing loss in either ear, measured in decibels (dB) over
6 frequencies. The hearing standard is derived from a sum of the total
hearing loss (dB) within the low and high frequencies as measured by
‘pure-tone air conduction’ audiometry. Hearing standard profiles are to
be at least H2 in each ear.
Hearing Standard Low Frequency Sum
(0.5, 1 & 2 KHz
High Frequency Sum
(3, 4 & 6 KHz)
H1 <45
No single level to be
more than 20dB
<45
Level not to be more
than 30dB at 6kHz or
at 20dB at any other
frequency
H2 <84 <123
H3 <150 <210
H8 >150 >210
(6) Physique – Candidates must have a normal physique and be within
normal height/weight ratios for their age, maximum Body Mass Index
(BMI) of 28.
Reference No
005/034
Duration
30 weeks
Location
Britannia Royal
Naval College,
Dartmouth
Frequency
4 courses
per year
Age
Minimum age 18

3. www.royalnavy.mod.uk/idt
International Defence Training (Royal Navy)
May 2015 Britannia Royal Naval College
INITIAL NAVAL TRAINING
(OFFICER) (INT(O))
(7) Dental Standards – Dental treatment is costly both in terms of time
and money. Candidates whose dental health is assessed as likely to
cause problems will not be allowed to proceed to sea. As a result all
candidates are to be in good dental health before joining and have no
evidence of dental disease, decay or need for ongoing dental treatment.
c. Medical and Dental Checks – Candidates must complete a medical
questionnaire prior to joining BRNC and will undergo a full medical screening
on arrival. Those outside the above requirements will be considered unfit
and returned to home. Any queries concerning an individual’s fitness to
commence training should be directed to the Principal Medical Officer,
BRNC.
d. Physical Standards – Young Officers undertake a rigorous physical
fitness programme and arduous leadership exercises whilst at BRNC. They are
expected to participate fully in each session involving a variety of activities
such as rope climbing, vaulting and circuit training. The physical training
syllabus is designed to produce a progressive development in cardiovascular
fitness and endurance. Potential candidates must have a reasonable level of
fitness before joining BRNC, and on joining must be capable of:
(1) Passing Swimming Test (includes swimming 100m in pair of overalls).
(2) Running 2.4 Km in 11 minutes 13 seconds
If unable to swim or unable to achieve a 2.4 Km run within 10% of the
required time, candidates will be considered unfit and returned to their
national authorities. These are the minimum physical standards required to
successfully complete the course at BRNC and candidates undertake a 30
week PT syllabus based on this minimum level of fitness at entry. In addition
to the PT syllabus, all Young Officers will be expected to participate in at
least two difference sports per week. These sessions are compulsory and
form part of the overall syllabus. In general, each person participates in a
team sport, relevant to the time of year, on Mondays and another sport on
Wednesdays.
e. Academic Standards
(1) Educational standard to UK GCSE passes of minimum Grade C in English
Language and Mathematics of equivalent standard. Desirable to have
GCSE pass (Grade C) in Physics or acceptable equivalent standard.
(2) English Language Standards – Minimum IELTS level 5.5 in all 4 disciplines
(speaking, reading, writing and listening). Achievement of IELTS 6 in all
4 disciplines gives greater indication of success on INT(O).
Reference No
005/034
Duration
30 weeks
Location
Britannia Royal
Naval College,
Dartmouth
Frequency
4 courses
per year
Age
Minimum age 18